Shared Parenting News.
The posts below are a selection of the most recent shared parenting news. To view our blog , which has been discontinued and archived, please visit sharedparenting.com.
Slaying a New Woozle
November 23, 2020 by Don Hubin, Ph.D., Chair, National Board of Directors
We have A. A. Milne, author of the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories, to thank for the word ‘woozle’. In Milne’s story, the woozle is a creature that Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet are tracking in the snow. As they follow the tracks, the footprints multiply and they are sure they’re hot on the trail of a woozle. As it turns out, though, they’ve been following their own footprints as they circle a tree. The woozle doesn’t exist and the “evidence” they’ve found of it is just a product of their own search for it.
In social science, though, ‘woozle’ has a different meaning. The term is familiar to shared parenting advocates because of important work by Linda Nielsen. Relying on work by Richard Gelles, who introduced the term to social science, here’s how Professor Nielsen describes a woozle:
Psychological Tests for Parental Alienation
On December 5 & 6, the International Council on Shared Parenting (ICSP), with support from National Parents Organization, is presenting an extraordinary conference, freely available to anyone on the Internet. The conference brings together leading researchers from around the world to address a variety of issues connected with shared parenting, but with a special focus on shared parenting and domestic violence.
The organizers were fortunate to be able to include in the conference Dr. William Bernet, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Bernet has done groundbreaking research on parental alienation. His presentation, “A Counterintuitive Feature of Family Violence and Parental Alienation,” will be presented at 1:30 pm EDT on Sunday, December 6. Below, Dr. Bernet presents the various tests related to parental alienation that will be discussed in his presentation.
In Nebraska, a Culture of Shared Parenting and a Decline in Court Filings
November 13, 2020 by Robert Franklin, JD, Member, National Board of Directors
Sometimes it’s what doesn’t happen that’s important.
On November 3, the Nebraska Court of Appeals decided seven cases. Not one was a family law matter.
Meet Katie Rubano
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a Realtor in Denver, Colorado. In addition I am a Co-Parenting coach for Targeted Parents. In my spare time I run a large Colorado based Support Group for Targeted Parents and Grandparents. I take advantage of Colorado's outdoor lifestyle, cycling, hiking, and snowshoeing. I also enjoy cooking, trying new restaurants and dancing.
When did you start volunteering with NPO?
December, 2019
Shared Parenting Victories in Ohio!
October 21, 2020 by Don Hubin, Ph.D., Chair, National Board of Directors
National Parents Organization is committed to reforming the norms of separated parenting to make equal shared parenting the typical outcome when parents live apart. This is a battle that is fought on multiple fronts.
The legislative reform front is one that often receives the most attention. And statutory changes can be impressive, as NPO proved in Kentucky when it spurred the most dramatic improvement in a state’s child custody laws in the country, catapulting Kentucky from a ‘D-’ state in the 2014 NPO Shared Parenting Report Card to a ‘A’ in the 2019 report.
Is Shared Parenting Coming to Greece?
October 14, 2020 by Robert Franklin, JD, Member, National Board of Directors
Our Greek friends in the global movement for shared parenting have been actively trying to convince the Hellenic Parliament to reform child custody laws to make shared parenting the norm there. If Active Dads of Greece succeeds, they’ll have had a huge impact on Greek children and society. Currently, the pro-mother bias of the courts overwhelms all other variables in deciding custody and parenting time. A whopping 98% of custodial parents in Greece are mother.
Here, the figure is about 80%, but interestingly, popular opinion in Greece on the subject of child custody closely parallels our own. Here’s a link to a survey of Greek parents, male and female, married and divorced, that’s much like ones conducted here in the U.S., some at the request of NPO and some not.
Welcome To Our New Website
Well, it’s been a long time in the works and an even longer time that it’s been needed. Finally, though, I’m delighted to announce the opening of the new and improved National Parents Organization website.
Our old website had grown long in the tooth. It looked dated and, more importantly, didn’t display well and was hard to navigate on mobile devices. The new site has a modern look, is easy to view and navigate on mobile devices, and is much easier to update.
Meet Andre Rainey
When did you start volunteering with NPO?
I began volunteering with NPO in early 2022.
Tell us a little about yourself?
I am a proud father of four, a lifelong youth advocate, former Mayor of Peekskill, and a small business owner. Having traveled extensively, I believe my life's purpose is to inspire.
Meet Jason Griffith
When did you start volunteering with NPO?
I started volunteering with NPO in 2018.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Kentucky. I'm 43 years old and married with 3 kids. I've work for Toyota Motor Manufacturing for 20 years and also, I'm a business owner. I enjoy acting, cooking, traveling, politics, and doing volunteer work. I'm a very ambitious person who's passion is helping others.
Meet Lori Grover, NCM
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a nationally certified mediator in private practice in RI/owner of Rhode Island Divorce Mediation Center, LLC. I am a founding member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM), author of Separate Homes Connected Lives, and creator of Total Divorce Blueprint - an online program for divorce, co-parenting and high conflict divorce cases. I also conduct workshops and seminars encompassing all aspects of divorce, divorce & finances, co-parenting and high conflict divorces. I am a mom to my fur babies, Max & Maya. My hobbies include personal growth, reading, painting, and music.
Meet Tony Bickel
What is your position in your NPO chapter and what are some of your duties?
I am Chair of the Wisconsin Chapter, as well as the president of a local Wisconsin group, Wisconsin Fathers for Children and Families. This allows me to work with great people here in Wisconsin to gather ideas and action plans to help our state continue to improve the lives of children with separated parents.
Meet Matt Hancock
What inspired you to get involved with NPO?
After personally experiencing and witnessing some of the injustices of family court, I really wanted to help bring real change to the system, and also help others that may be going through my experiences and be able to support them so that they don't feel alone.
Meet Jim Clark
What are some lessons you've learned from your volunteer work?
Change takes time. Our efforts and the things we do today often takes a lot of time to take root and sprout. The political process for legislative change is complex and understanding how to be effective is vital to helping other parents sooner than later
Shared Parenting Report Card: Press Conference Video Highlights
On September 18, 2019, National Parents Organization hosted a press conference in New York City to announce the must-anticipated release of our Shared Parenting Report Card, {INSERT SHORT DESCRIPTION).
A wide array of speakers from parents to children to advocates shared their personal stories surrounding divorce and provided their rationale for supporting shared parenting.
NPO's Roadmap for Success & 2019 Report Card
Deputy Executive Director, Ginger Gentile, hosts her first live video chat discussing National Parents Organization’s strategies for leading the way on shared parenting legislation, court reform and research.